Why is the Patrick Manning administration deliberately courting the ire of citizens with some really inexplicable undertakings, demonstrating a bizarre lack of compassion to the less fortunate? There are numerous examples to prove where this regime has taken very contradictory positions to its mantra, first sung I think two or three general elections ago, "We Care." Today I deal with just one heart-rending example–the plight of nine-year-old Hannah Lendor, who is literally at death's door and who is in dire need of life-saving surgery which cannot be performed in T&T. This child's tragic situation has been in the media for the past three months so Mr Manning, Health Minister Jerry Narace and others who comprise the political directorate cannot plead ignorance at the desperate situation this child is facing.
Not to mention the heartache and indignity that her mother has to face by trudging up and down the country begging for financial assistance to save the life of Hannah through a liver transplant. The cost of the operation abroad has been put at $1.3 million and up to the time of writing, approximately $400,000 has been raised by the girl's guardians and other well-wishers who have volunteered to assist in the fund-raising efforts. The Government, based on a similar case some time ago, increased its grant for this type of assistance from $60,000 to a measly $100,000, to be awarded only after the victim's relatives raised the rest of the money, no matter how small or large the total sum. Time is running out and the latest date fast approaching by which this operation must be performed if Hannah is to have a fighting chance of survival.
As I said, many civic-minded citizens, deeply moved by the pitiful true-life story of Hannah, have mercifully chipped in and I must pay special tribute to the Guardian newspapers, Power 102FM and its sister station, 94.1, for virtually adopting this do-or-die campaign. With all the public appeals being carried on the electronic and printed media, I hesitated from commenting, absolutely confident that the Government would take cognisance and rally to the cause before it is too late. Unfortunately, the administration has let down the national community and I was moved to write on this touching topic today, based on an e-mail I received from a Guardian reader last week, which read in part: "How can a leader (Mr Manning) be so out of touch with the world and the people around him? Hannah Lendor's case is becoming increasingly critical. I had an idea this morning: that a call is made via radio, television, e-mail and the like for people to wear something white, a bit of ribbon would do, and go and sit in Woodford Square on a Friday afternoon when Parliament is in session.
"This is a matter that could cause anxiety to any parent at the thought of his child needing medical care that is available but not accessible. "Mr Raphael, please do not allow the plight of Hannah Lendor–the child from Sea Lots who needs a liver transplant–to disappear from the headlines. "It will be to our eternal shame as a country if she dies because of our indifference. "Should you feel it useful to quote from my letter, I would appreciate it if my name was kept confidential. Ordinary people like me, not even in public life, fear victimisation for voicing an opinion not favourable to the Government." A society's developed state, it is said, is judged by the way it treats its elderly, its children, those in need and the destitute. This child was brought to the Power 102 station for the umpteenth time last week, where her mother made another heartfelt appeal for public assistance to spare the life of her child.
I was alerted to their presence by one of the station's presenters/human resource clerks Gail Ann Perotte, who came into my office, her face almost entirely awash with tears. She sat on a chair and with bent head kept crying away. I asked her what was wrong and after trying to compose herself, Gail Ann said between the tears: "Mr Raphael, I just saw Hannah in the waiting room and I cannot believe this is happening to a child in our country with so much funds available to this Government. "Mr Raphael, I have a nine-year-old child too and Hannah could have been my own child. You cannot tell me that this Government cannot find the money to save her life... What kind of people are we, Mr Raphael?" Sadly, I couldn't find the words to console her and she left in tears. It was that kind of afternoon at the station. Gloom took over but in the midst of sad and teary faces we passed the hat around for Hannah. The usually vociferous Anil Roberts was even more passionate and condemnatory over the lack of any response to Hannah's case by this so-called caring Government.
Expressing my own anger to a prominent citizen over the absolutely shocking silence of Manning and Narace–ultimately the call to give the life-saving money to Hannah is Manning's–in this soul-crushing case, she advised me not to get vex, that there are two sides to every story and there must be a logical reason for Government's inaction so far.
To be continued
